NCAA Football '10

So, anyone? I'm doing my annual tradition of picking up this game, playing it furiously for about 3 months, then letting it gather dust until this time next year. Actually last year I got into playing online, but people either would drop out when they were getting beat, or in the league I played in, people just stopped playing about 1/2 way through the season.

I'm the same way. I think it's because there are so many different teams to choose from, and it's fun to take a traditionally crappy or Division II, I mean, FBS team and lead them to the championship. The recruiting in '09, while interesting and somewhat fun in the beginning, got to be a pain in the ass after a while. I'll be interested to see if they've pulled back on it a bit in this version.

Wow, the frustration factor just went x10 for me. I'm trying to play a season, and in the first game I lose a defensive struggle because I can't run the ball. The next two games (one vs. an FBS team and one vs. a ranked team), I'm still having trouble running the ball until the very end. Then the next game, I can't do anything vs. an unranked team. I mean nothing. I run a toss sweep, and the fucking defensive players are there before I can even take the handoff. I pass the ball, and it's gets batted down at the line 50% of the time. I reset the game twice and it kept doing it. I told the Gamestop guy I wouldn't be interested in trading this in for Madden '10, but if this keeps up, I may just do that. I thought I broke my controller at one point--I threw it like 6 feet across the room after my guy caught a swing pass with no one around him and 1 yard away from the 1st down marker, and then suddenly three guys zoomed in and tackled him short of the first down.

I think on the 2nd level--not Freshman, but the next level. Whatever the default was. My "star" RB can't outrun anyone. Actually, none of my RBs or WRs that are a 95 SPD or higher can outrun anyone. Is there no "sprint" button anymore? I know I'm losing out by not trying to stiff arm or spin move anyone--I need to work on that. But considering I have my guys set to "hold block longer" and no one on my OL is under a 93 in ability, you'd think I could run the ball, especially up the middle, a helluva lot better. Other players just seem to shed every block my guys attempt, yet I can't get off any block when I'm on defense.

Oh, and in one game, the CPU got on my 1 yard line, and couldn't run it in two times in a row. The next play, he takes the snap, then immediately throws up the ball. Incomplete. 4th down, he does the same thing, and lo and behold, his WR outjumps my 3 DBs and catches the lob pass. Fuck you, EA.

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I think I am going to take this back and get the big trade-in value for Madden '10. I played again last night vs. USF. I knocked their QB out of the game, and on 4th and 12 from the 16, the backup QB, on his first play in the driving rain, snaps the ball, takes a 1-step drop, and throws a pass over the outstretched hands of 2 D-Linemen, and right between 2 LBs to the TE for the touchdown. My wife yelled at me when I threw the controller across the room.

I ended up winning the game on a fluke play--I caught him out of position when I ran a 4 WR set and he only had 2 CBs on me, so I got a 65-yard play on a literal 7 yard pass. I almost scored too fast, because he had just over 2 minutes to come back and win. Another nagging thing I've noticed--when the game starts, I set my stuff to "By Formation". However, every time 4th down comes up and either it thinks I should go for it or the CPU is going for it, the game automatically reverts to the "Corso Recommends", whether I'm on offense or defense. And I'm still pissed that I'll have a guy uncovered in the flat, and as soon as he catches the ball, there are suddenly 2-3 defensive players that appear out of nowhere that I can't outrun.

The CPU returns kickoffs routinely for 25-30 yards...I can't get more than 10-15 yards. I played BYU and won 27-14, and BYU's 14 points came from two KO returns for TDs. His blockers can push anyone out of the way, but my guys can't hold a block more than 2 seconds, and about once a quarter, inevitably one DL for the CPU will blow up my guard and either make a tackle in the backfield or sack me. It's happened to me every game I've played.

It's funny that you can't effectively pass--that's the only thing I can do. I can't run with any consistency, unless I pass, pass, pass, and then I can only run either towards the end of the game, or out of the shotgun.

What team(s) are you using? And did you adjust the AI sliders at all? Sometimes when these things are really skewed different ways, you can adjust the sliders and it helps. I need to go online and try to find some slider settings to see if it helps at all.

I mean, I'm using FSU, which is ranked like an A for offense, and a B+ for defense. My defense is fantastic for the most part. I have a problem with RBs consistently gashing me up the middle. I started pinching the DL every play one game, and that finally stopped it, but it wasn't just with one team--every team could just run straight up the middle. And playing USF, their RB took the ball one time ran up the line, stopped, side stepped 3 defenders, cut back the left, then ran into the end zone. All while every one of my defenders were being "blocked" by the other USF players. Now I don't know--maybe their RB is that good. But it was a hell of a run whether or not it was the CPU.

I've also had the same problem WRs. I've had them set for square-ins or square-outs, and when I anticipate their break, they never turn. They just keep running straight. And I don't think I've completed a deep pass yet either. I can't get any WRs to run faster than a safety, apparently. And my slowest WR is a 90 speed.

Maybe I just need to finish my season and let my guys progress and see what happens. And I agree, I think it's the game itself, not the team ratings or ability.

I will tell you one play that works a lot, maybe because I don't run it a lot--a pass to the flat to the FB. I have a FB that is a good pass catcher, which helps, but I'd guess he's not even covered 90% of the time. I did PA in Goal Line formation on the 4 yard line one time and rolled right, and I had my choice of a wide-open TE or FB. There was a LB in between the two, but he was 2-3 steps behind both. I run a little sparse option, and one time I was completely engulfed by two defenders, and I still hit the pitch button anyway. The ball came out like it was punched, and my RB caught it and ran for 15 yards. Of course, I've also pitched it and gotten negative yards, whereas I should have just held the ball.

Yep, well, I'm done. Fuck this game. I returned it to Gamestop today and picked up Madden '10 for $18. Here's what led to the final straw for me:

I'm playing Ga. Tech as FSU. They return the opening KO for a TD. Then I score. I KO out of bounds. On the 2nd play from scrimmage, the QB throws an awful lob pass to the FB. He breaks SIX tackles on route to a 60 yard TD. I score again. He takes the KO and returns it for a TD for the 2nd time. I kick a FG, then kick the ball OOB. On the first play from scrimmage, he runs into the pile up the middle, darts and scoots, and breaks free for a 67-yard TD. Halftime. I check the main RB's stats--he's broken SEVENTEEN tackles at the half. 2nd half starts--I get the ball, fumble it, then he throws an INT I return for a TD. We're tied. He gets the ball, and I can't do anything to stop him. He gets inside my 10 yard line. Runs a sweep, and as my LB is closing in on him at the sidelines (CPU-controlled, not by me, as I was chasing him with a DE), suddenly the LB that's going to cut him off does a 180 and runs the opposite direction. RB scores, I throw the controller, and announce that this game can eat my asshole.

I'll go back later and buy NCAA '09 and play it again.